Development and Characterization of Sodium Alginate/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Blend Scaffold with Ciprofloxacin Loaded in Controlled Drug Delivery System

: Sodium Alginate/Poly(vinyl alcohol) (SA/PVA) blend scaffolds were successfully prepared via solution casting method for controlled release of ciprofloxacin (CPF). The structures of the films were evaluated by ATR-FTIR, XRD and SEM. A wide variety of material characteristics for the SA/PVA blend scaffolds were investigated, including the swelling behaviour, liquid displacement method, mechanical property and antibacterial activity. ATR-FTIR studies evaluated the chemical interaction between the biopolymeric scaffolds and the drug. XRD studies proved the amorphous behaviour of the prepared scaffolds. SEM images revealed good cohesivity and compatibility between the biopolymers and the cargos. SA/PVA loaded with ciprofloxacin showed maximum swelling percentage, porosity and tensile strength. The formulated ciprofloxacin loaded SA/PVA scaffold showed strong antibacterial activity. The results of CPF release from biopolymeric scaffolds at pH 1.2, 5.3 and 7.4 indicated strong pH dependence. In vitro drug-controlled release studies showed a slower and more continuous release for the SA/PVA in comparison with plain SA and PVA and the drug-delivery cumulative release was proportional to the amount and the interlayer distance of SA/PVA blend scaffolds. A sustained drug release pattern was observed with a non fickian diffusion mechanism.